LIVERPOOL could face competition from AC Milan for the signing of Ukrainian star Andriy Yarmalenko after reportedly lodging a bid of almost £20m for the player.

According to Sky Italia Brendan Rodgers has offered €23m (£19.7m) for Dinamo Kiev's Yarmolenko who Ukrainian national coach Oleg Blohkin has called "unstoppable".

But Milan also have a long-standing interest in the player and hope he can be persuaded to follow a similar path to compatriot Andriy Shevchenko who starred for the Rossoneri after joining from Dynamo Kiev in 1999.

Andriy Yarmolenko is also wanted by AC Milan

My client obviously wants to play for a club like Milan. He would like to follow in the footsteps of Shevchenko.

Andriy Yarmolenko's agent Mikhail Gulordava

And after qualifying for the group stages of the Champions League, the Italian club could be ready to at least match Liverpool's offer after having a £17m bid turned down recently.

The 23-year-old's agent agent Mikhail Gulordava said: "Milan made a €20m (£17m) bid for Yarmolenko, but the only way to tempt Kiev's president is to make an offer that he can't refuse.

"My client obviously wants to play for a club like Milan. He would like to follow in the footsteps of Shevchenko.

"However, Premier League clubs are also interested."

Milan have already had a bid for Andriy Yarmolenko rejected

Andriy Yarmolenko wants to emulate Andriy Shevchenko

And Shevchenko has given the young winger a ringing endorsement.

He said: "Yarmolenko is a great player - talented and quick.

"Even though he doesn't play in my position, up front, he still manages to score plenty of goals.

"If he works hard he could get to the highest level."

It now remains to be seen whether Dynamo Kiev are swayed by Liverpool's bid and whether Milan are willing to up the stakes now they are in a position to offer Champions League football to the budding star.